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Prior Chicago Building Code
BUILDING CODE AND RELATED EXCERPTS OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF CHICAGO
DIVISION 1 - ADMINISTRATION
DIVISION 2 - DEFINITIONS
DIVISION 3 - USE AND OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATIONS
DIVISION 4 - SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON USE AND OCCUPANCY
DIVISION 5 - GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
DIVISION 6 - TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
DIVISION 7 - FIRE-RESISTANCE-RATED CONSTRUCTION
DIVISION 8 - INTERIOR FINISHES (NA)
DIVISION 9 - FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
DIVISION 10 - MEANS OF EGRESS
DIVISION 11 - ACCESSIBILITY
DIVISION 12 - INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
DIVISION 13 - ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
DIVISION 14 - EXTERIOR WALLS (NA)
DIVISION 15 - ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES (NA)
DIVISION 16 - STRUCTURAL DESIGN
DIVISION 17 - STRUCTURAL TESTS AND SPECIAL INSPECTIONS
DIVISION 18 - SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
DIVISION 19 - CONCRETE
DIVISION 20 - ALUMINUM (NA)
DIVISION 21 - MASONRY
DIVISION 22 - STEEL
DIVISION 23 - WOOD
DIVISION 24 - GLASS AND GLAZING (NA)
DIVISION 25 - GYPSUM BOARD AND PLASTER (NA)
DIVISION 26 - PLASTIC (NA)
DIVISION 27 - ELECTRICAL
DIVISION 28 - MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
DIVISION 29 - PLUMBING SYSTEMS
DIVISION 30 - ELEVATORS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS
DIVISION 31 - SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION (NA)
DIVISION 32 - ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
DIVISION 33 - SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION
DIVISION 34 - EXISTING STRUCTURES
DIVISION 35 - REFERENCED STANDARDS

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15-16-1540  Listing required – Exception – Testing.
   Only listed residential sprinklers shall be used. Listing may be waived for tanks, pumps, hangers, waterflow detection devices and water-control valves except that water-control valves shall be of the indicating type. Unlisted devices shall be submitted to the fire commissioner for approval.
   All systems shall be tested for leakage at normal system operating water pressure. If a fire department pumper connection is provided, tests shall be performed in accordance with Section 15-16-260.
(Prior code § 91-132; Added Coun. J. 12-21-84, p. 12140; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 139)
15-16-1550  Permitted water supplies – Water quantity.
   The following water supplies complying with Chapter 11-8 are permitted:
   (a)   Connection to city main with an approved automatically operated pump;
   (b)   An elevated tank;
   (c)   A pressure tank installed in accordance with NFPA 13-2013, and NFPA 22-2013;
   (d)   A stored water source with an approved automatically operated pump.
   When stored water is used as the sole source of supply, the minimum quantity shall equal the water demand rates times ten minutes.
(Prior code § 91-133; Added Coun. J. 12-21-84, p. 12140; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. VII, § 31)
15-16-1560  Specific requirements.
   Each system shall have a control valve, a system drain one-half inch or larger, and a test connection with valve on the system side of the control valve.
   A pressure gauge and liquid level indicator shall be installed to indicate air pressure and water quantity in water supply pressure tanks.
   Pipe or tube used in sprinkler systems shall be of materials specified in Section 15-16-370 of this Code.
   Schedule ten steel pipe may be joined with mechanical groove couplings approved for service with grooves rolled on the pipe by an approved groove- rolling machine for branch lines only.
   Fittings used in sprinkler systems shall be of materials specified in NFPA 13-2013.
   Fittings shall be supported from structural members in accordance with Section 15-16-380 of this Code. Piping laid on open joist or rafters shall be secured to prevent lateral movement.
   Listed residential sprinklers shall be used. The basis of such a listing shall be tests to establish the ability of the sprinklers to control residential fires under standardized fire test conditions. The standardized fire shall be based on a residential array of furnishings and finishes.
   The sprinklers shall have fusing temperatures not less than 35 degrees Fahrenheit above maximum expected ambient temperature.
   Joints for the connection of copper tubing may be soldered in accordance with ASTM B32-08 (2014), 95-5 or 50-50.
   Operated, damaged or painted sprinklers shall be replaced with sprinklers having the same performance characteristics as original equipment.
   Local waterflow alarms shall be provided on all sprinkler systems.
(Prior code § 91-134; Added Coun. J. 12-21-84, p. 12140; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. VII, § 32)
15-16-1570  Positioning – Number – Piping specifications – Water demand.
   Application rates, design areas, areas of coverage, positioning, and minimum design pressures shall be in accordance with the listings of the specific residential sprinklers used.
   The number of design sprinklers includes all sprinklers within a compartment to a maximum of two sprinklers.
   The water demand for the system shall be determined by multiplying the design discharge per manufacturer's listing by the number of design sprinklers.
   Sprinklers shall be positioned so that the discharge is not obstructed by beams or light fixtures.
   When tests are performed which show that sprinklers are positioned so that discharge is not obstructed, sprinklers shall be installed in accordance with the test results.
   Piping shall be sized hydraulically in accordance with the methods described in NFPA 13-2013 and as modified in this section. A sufficient number of calculations shall be made to insure adequate pipe sizing for the various design discharges for which the residential sprinkler is listed.
   Minimum size shall be one-inch for copper and steel.
   Pressure drop in water meters shall be based on the meter manufacturer's data.
   Piping configurations may be looped, gridded, straight run or combinations thereof.
   Sprinklers shall be installed in all areas except as follows:
      (a)   Sprinklers may be omitted from bathrooms not exceeding 55 square feet in area with noncombustible plumbing fixtures.
      (b)   Sprinklers may be omitted from closets where the least dimension does not exceed three feet and the area does not exceed 24 square feet and the walls and ceiling are surfaced with noncombustible materials.
      (c)   Sprinklers may be omitted from open attached porches.
      (d)   Sprinklers may be omitted from carports, garages, and similar structures if separated in accordance with Sections 13-56-280 or 13-96-290 of this Code.
      (e)   Sprinklers may be omitted from attics which are not used or intended for living purposes or storage.
(Prior code § 91-135; Added Coun. J. 12-21-84, p. 12140; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. VII, § 33)